Josh Groban - O Holy Night

'O Holy Night' is one of the most popular carols nowadays, and here is Josh Groban singing it - a very good version I think.   Enjoy!

 

Merry Christmas

 A very happy, holy and safe Christmas to all who visit the Canon's Stall - and a big thankyou for making it worth it.

Here is our sanctuary and crib at St Brigid's as of Tuesday. Baby Jesus was in the crib for our Bambinelli hour that children could visit.

Annunciation

I never tire of reflecting on this version of the Annunciation. Painted by Antonello da Messina, it hangs in the gallery at Palermo. It offers us an archangel's view of the one to whom he has just delivered the greatest message of all time.  

Her veil, her book, the dark background, but most of all her hands and face say it all...

 

Churches remain open

 

Sunshine after dark

A few weeks ago I talked about discovering the classic Fleetwood Mac album "Rumours". Today I dug into another band I never quite caught up with: the Proclaimers. Described by Wikipedia as "a Scottish duo formed in 1983 by twin brothers Craig and Charlie Reid, who were born on 5 March 1962"  they are famous mostly for the song "I'm Gonna Be (500 miles)". Active from 1983 as an acoustic duo, they moved in a rock direction, and have sold over 5 million albums worldwide.

The song that has caught my eye is called "Sunshine on Leith". It is a ballad from 1988 and is deceptively simple. I think it's about someone who meets the love of their life after being hurt in a previous relationship, and unusually it includes thanksgiving to God ("the Chief") for bringing this about. But I think it touches anyone who has been helped by another - spouse, friend, parent, whoever - to get over any hurting situation. From the abrupt, in-your-face and repeated beginning through the simple lyrics, it's real, to use that overused word, and it's very touching.  It has come to be the anthem of Hibernians football team who offfer a lusty rendering of it after winning the Scottish Cup Final in 2016, giving the Principality Stadium a run for its money.

Here are the original video and the lyrics:

 

        1. My heart was broken,  my heart was broken 

            Sorrow, sorrow,  sorrow, sorrow

My heart was broken,  my heart was broken
You saw it, you claimed it,  you touched it, you saved it

 

2. My tears are drying,  my tears are drying..
Thank you, thank you,  thank you, thank you

My tears are drying,  my tears are drying
Your beauty and kindness  made tears clear my blindness

 

While I'm worth my room on this Earth

I will be with you
While the Chief puts sunshine on Leith

I'll thank Him for His work
And your birth and my birth
Yeah, yeah, yeah

 

        (repeat verse 1 and chorus)

 

Charles Reid / Craig Reid 

Deacon and friend

Congratulations and blessings to Christian Mahoney of our parish, ordained deacon this afternoon by Archbishop George at the cathedral - excuse me, that should be Rev. Christian Mahoney!

Distancing meant a sparse cathedral and Advent meant a rather sparse sanctuary, but the liturgy was simple yet very moving. I always find the prostration during ordinations very inspiring, the candidate flat out before the Lord. I was very happy to share a pew with wife Esther and daughter Daniela. Daughter Alessia sang beautifully from the choir loft, Esther and Daniela read, and Esther helped vest Christian with his deacon robes, the stole and dalmatic.

Christian is the first deacon Archbishop Stack has ordained for a long time in Cardiff (ever?). Our parishes are very happy to have played a part in his journey and that of his family, and I personally count myself lucky to call myself their good friend.

Canons and candles

Yesterday the canons met at the cathedral on the feast of the Immaculate Conception, the feast day of our diocese. After a business meeting in the morning - socially distanced of course - the Archbishop installed a new canon in the Chapter, Canon David Hayman, parish priest of Pontypool and Blaenavon, Chancellor of our diocese and Administrator of our Marriage Tribunal, where he works very closely with me. This took place during Mass, which was a solemn Mass but without the choir etc of course. We did have, however, a beautiful soloist to sing the Mass and hymns. Lovely day.

In our 3 Churches despite the Corona virus we are anxious to maintain the rhythm of the Church's year by still celebrating the seasons etc. So this evening we held an Advent Service which was live-streamed. By following the handing on of God's light through the Old Testament and then via Jesus on into the New, the light was then followed through Church history until the present, ending with the question 'Who will pass on the light now?'  During this a series of candles were lit, starting from the left side, up the steps to the crib and then back down to the right....  The picture shows the finished tableau.  I must say, it looked beautiful.

Walking with St Joseph during Advent

A nice video to help us in Advent - focussing on St Joseph, so often forgotten in the Advent/Christmas celebrations.  This is put together by Patrick van der Vorst of www.christian.art, who I have mentioned before. He is a student at my old seminary in Rome, but was a director of Southeby's in London.